Detachable link



A. H. BECK ET AL DETACHABLE LIN K Sept. 13, 1927.

Filed July 22, 1926 d 19/ 'n ec an BYa F M 9 mg m ATTORNEYS PatentedSept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,642,322 PATENT- OFFICE- ALWIN,H. BECK ALTD EDI-VIN S.MIX, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNO-RS T0 HIC- KOK .IQANUFAGTUBINGCOMPANY, INC OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

Application filed July 22,

able links and an object of .the invention is 'to provide 'a strong anddurable structure through which a flexible connection such as a watchchain may be detacha-bly and effectively connected to any suitablearticle, such, for instance, as a watch. A further object of theinvention is to provide a link which will connect with the article insuch a manner that pullin or twisting strains onthe link will not effectthe disconnection of the article from the link. Still another andfurther object of the invention is to provide a link structure which maybe economically manufactured due to the fact that the number of partsentering into the same are re- I duced to a minimum.

' To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts andcombinations of parts, all of which will be herein-after described: thenovel features being pointed out in the appended claims. 7

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end view of the link;

Fig.2 is a side view of the link closed;

Fig. 3 is aside view of the link open;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44,Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the link; i

Fig. 6 is a section on the line '6-6, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing another way in which the closuremember of the link may be constructed.

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, there'is employed abody member 1 preferably formed from a flat metal stamping,- thus makingit possible to obtain greater strength in the walls of the link due tothe fact that the grain structure of the material produced in therolling operation of the fiat metal extends in a direction to resist thepulling strain on the link. This body'mernber 1 in this instance has alarge elongated opening 2 which. extends throughout a greater portion ofthe body, the sides of the opening gradually flaring from one end of thebody toward the opposite end throughout the greater portion of theopening, an then converging at greater angles than the main portions ofthe sides of the opening. The body may also be provided at one end withan opening 3 through which a flexible connection may be secured to thelink, such, for instance, as a watch chain. The elongated opening 2 hasa throat opening 4 DETACHABLE LINIK.

Serial no. 124.250.

sure member is mounted to turn on the body nember on that side of theelongated openmg 2 opposite the throat 4. In'this instance,

the body is reduced at 5 to provide'a bearing and shoulders 6 atopposite ends of the hearing. The closure 7 whidi in this instance isformed from sheet metal, has a sleeve 8 carried thereby and preferablyformed by rolling the metal of the closure intotubular shape, thissleeve being passed about the bearing 5 so that the closure may swingtransversely of the plane of the link on said bearing toward and fromclosed position. The closure, when in closed position, extends from thebearing across the openingfland bridges the space between the sides ofthe throat 4 so that when in closed position it restricts thesize ofthe'openi-ng 2 to an area sufiicient for receiving the link oftihe'watch or other article passed through the 'opening 2.

WVi-th the end in view o'flocking the c'losure against accidentaldisplacement in.

closed osition, there is projected from each wall 0' the throat 4 aprojection 9, these projections extending toward each other. The closurehas two openings formed on opposite sides of its swinging end forreceiving these projections, there being provided in the link or in theclosure, or both, sulficient resiliency to permit a relative movementbetween the projections 9 and the walls of the openings in which saidprojections are received.

In the ernbod'iment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to '6 inclusive,the closure isre cessed at 10 at its free end and the free end is rolledso as to provide two tubes 11 aligned'with each other, the outer ends ofthese tubes forming the openings in whichthe projections 9 are received.In order to d limit the movement of the closure to swing sure issubstantially i3 shaped, the bearing tube being turned from the metal inone direction and the tube 11 being turned from the metal in theopposite direction, as clearly indicated in Fig. l of the drawing.

The form of the closure shown in Fig. 7 is also formed from sheet metal.This closure 7 has, however, the bearing tube 8 rolled on that side ofthe metal on which the tube 11 is rolled. In this instance, the closuremember is not slitted at its swinging end although it might be, and onlyone tube is formed, the opposite ends of which form openings forreceiving the projections 9 of the body member. It has been found thatthe metal of the body member has a certain resiliency which will permitthe ends of the tube 11 to ride on and off the projections 9, andspecially when the latter are bevelled as shown in the drawing. It hasbeen fur- H161" found, however, that the projections 9 may be madelonger, if in addition to the resiliency present in the body member, aresilient connection is provided between those two portions of theclosure in which are formed the openings for receiving the projections9.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided adetachable link formed from only two parts without the employment of avseparate spring. The link body has an opening provided with a lateralthroat which is adapted to be opened and closed by a closure memberswinging transversely of the plane of the body preferably on the body atthat side of the opening opposite the side in which the throat isprovided. This closure member is provided with portions on oppositesides thereof which interlock with the walls of the throat of theopening, one or both of said parts being resilient so as to permit theinterlock ing. Stops are provided preferably on the closure to limit themovement of the closure to swinging in one direction toward and from thethroat.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A detachable link comprising a body member formed with an opening andthroat leading fromone side of the opening, a closure for the throatmounted to swing on the body about an axis extending longitudinally ofthe link on that side of the opening opposite the throat, andinterlocking means ar- .ings.

ranged on opposite walls of the throat and the opposite sides of theclosure for holding the closure in a closed position, said interlockingmeans comprising rigid projections on the walls of the throat andopenings in opposite sides of the closure in which the projections areadapted to enter.

2. A detachable link comprising abody having an opening formed with athroat in one side thereof, the walls of which are rigid, the bodyhaving on the side of the opening opposite the throat a bearing, and aclosure member having tubular portions surrounding said bearing to turntherein, and having a portion arranged to close the throat said portionhaving openings in opposite sides to receive the rigid walls of thethroat.

3.9; detachable link comprising a body having an opening provided with athroat on one side thereof, and a closure formed from sheet metal rolledat one side to pro vide a bearing mounted on the body on that side ofthe opening opposite the throatand rolled at the opposite side toprovide two openings at opposite sides of the closure, and rigidprojections on the walls of the throat for entering said openings of theclosure.

i. A detachable link comprising a body having an opening provided with athroat at one side thereof, a closure for the throat mounted to turn onthe body on that side of the opening opposite the throat, said closurehaving two resiliently mounted portions each provided with an opening,said openings being arranged on opposite sidesof the closure and rigid.projections on the walls of the throat for entering said open- 5. rdetachable link comprising a body having an opening provided with athroat at one side thereof, the walls of the throat bein rigid. aclosure for the throat mounted on the body about an axis extendinglongitudinally of the link on that side of the opening opposite thethroat, said closure having openings in opposite sides to receive therigid walls of the throat, the closure being provided with portionsprojecting at one side of each opening to form stops in order to limitthe movement of the closure in the throat.

ALVVIN H. BECK.

EDWIN 5. MIX.

